Noiseless typewriter



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Filed March 30, 1961 United States Patent 3,135,372 NUISELESS TYPEWRETER Karl T. Baughman, Evanston, Ill, assignor to Sears, Roebuck and Co., Chicago, llh, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 99,594 6 Claims. '(Cl. 17-l86) My invention relates to typewriters and has to do more particularly with an improved typewriter construction which permits practically noiseless operation, or at least a substantial reduction in the noise of operation as compared with currently known noiseless typewriters.

Typewriters of the so-called noiseless class have been on the market for many years. In general, such machines are characterized in that most of the mechanism is enclosed within the typewriter housing. However, in all cases, so far as I am aware, the most critical point from the standpoint of noise is left exposed, that is the point where the type makes impact on the platen, or the paper or stencil disposed thereon. Although the housing may cover the entire type basket and leave exposed only the path of movement of the particular type bar which is engaging the platen at any given moment, and although a considerable amount of sound may thus be muflied, nevertheless, the full exposure of the point of impact permits a tapping sound which it has been impossible to eliminate or greatly reduce in this type of machine.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to produce a typewriter having a housing which will cover substantially all of the type mechanism except for the keys and the forward portions of the type bars connected directly thereto. That is to say, typewriters embodying my invention will have a housing covering substantially all of'the type mechanism including that portion of the platen which is engaged directly by the type, so that the point of impact between the type and the platen is substantially unexposed and the sound of such impact is muffled, if not completely, to a much greater extent that in the so-called noiseless typewriters of the character heretofore known and described above.

Inasmuch as the entire line of impact between the type and the platen is concealed from the view of the operator in machines embodying my invention, such machines are characterized by mirror means in conjunction with means for illuminating the line of type, whereby said line of type which is in course of being written will be in full View of the operator. 'Alternatively, within the scope of my invention, only a portion of the line may be in View.

I am aware that in the prior art relating to typewriters of the antique character which preceded the so-called visible typewriters it was proposed to apply to such machines various attachments including mirrors and illuminating devices which would render the work being done on such machines visible to the operator. As examples of such prior art, reference is made to Sims 849,- 862, April 9, 1907 and Taylor 955,224, April 19, 1910. However, insofar as I am aware, in the long history of visible typewriters, which have been on the market now for many years, no one has proposed a construction comparable to my invention envisaging the enclosing of substantially the entire type mechanism, including the line of r 3,135,372 Patented June 2, 1964 impact, in conjunction with means rendering that line or a portion thereof visible to the operator.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this application and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

a FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typewriter embodying my invention, shown in condition for operation;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the same, showing the front cover elevated to permit access to the type basket and other parts of the mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the rear cover elevated to permit access to the platen,

FIG. 4 is a front-to-rear sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the housing, showing certain parts of the machine associated therewith;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 4. i

The numeral 10 indicates generally a typewriter housing comprising a sheet metal portion 15 (FIG. 4), which forms the bottom, front wall, front-top wall and an up standing rear flange. The front-top wall is perforated to permit the passage of key k and space bar .5; feet 16 are attached to the bottom wall.

' Side wall members 18, 18 also preferably of sheet metal are secured to the sheet metal member 15 by suitable means such as welding, brazing or the like.

It will be understood that a type basket, comprising a font of type and type bars connected to the keys, is arranged within the housing according to modes of construction well known in the art or by any other suitable means. Since this mechanism is no part of my invention,

the same is not shown in the drawings.

Attached to the inside of each of the side wall members 18, 18 is a plate 20 secured by studs 21 and serving that a flange 28 carried by the top portion of the housing member 15 extends behind the flange portion 26, the two being in spaced-apart and overlapping relation. An illuminating element 30 which may be in the form of an elongated tube extends across the major portion of the width of the typewriter. It will be noted that a space or window 31 is here provided immediately forwardly of the illuminating means 30, as seen in FIG. 4,. whereby the light provided therefrom may in part be projected forwardly onto the keyboard. Part of the light may also be projected rearwardly, and tofacilitate same a reflecting surface may be provided on either one or both of the elements 26 and 28 adjacent the illuminating means 30,

such reflecting means being, for example, in the nature of a white paint or enamel, aluminum powder, etc. As a matter of fact, the entire inside surface of the front cover 25 may be provided with such reflecting surface material in order that the maximum amount of illumination may be reflected rearwardly onto the platen.

A mirror 35 having its reflecting face rearwardly disposed is fixedly secured to the top of the rear edge of front cover member 25, as by means of a channel shaped bracket member 37 secured as by welding to the inside marginal portions of said cover member, said mirror 35 being relatively narrow and elongated and extending across substantially the entire width of said cover member 25, as seen best in FIGS. 1 and 2.

A horizontally reciprocable carriage indicated generally by the numeral 40 is provided and is associated with the typewriting mechanism in the usual or any suitable manner, and therefore need not be shown and described here with any particularity. This carriage includes the usual platen 42, side wall members 45, and a pair of platen rotating knobs 47 on the ends thereof.

- Secured to the side wall members 45, as by welding.

or the like, is a rear wall member 50 formed of sheet metal or the like, and pivotally carried at the top of said rear wall member 50, as by means of a piano hinge 53 or the like (FIG. 4), is a rear top wall member 55, also preferably formed of sheet metal or the like and having a longitudinal slot 57 extending substantially the full width thereof. Secured to the sides of rear cover 55 are bars 60, 60 which co-operate with the side wall members 45, 45 to complete the housing at the upper rear portion thereof and to provide a neat and attractive appearance as well as adequate enclosure of the mechanism.

It will be noted that slot 57 provides access to the platen whereby, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, paper F (FIG. 4) may be fed onto and from the platen. An adjustable mirror 65 extends across substantially the entire width of the machine, being substantially co-extensive in width with the patch 42, this mirror being mounted on its lower edge for rotation about a horizontal access. To this end a rod 67 is rotatablymounted in the carriage and has disposed thereon a plurality of spaced bosses 70 which are welded or brazed to a mirror frame 72. A shaft 75 is suitably journaled in the side wall 45 of the carriage and has a knob 73 on the outside thereof for manual adjustment of the mirror, said shaft having attached to its inner extremity an arm 80- with a lostmotion connection to one end of the mirror 65, as by means of a slideable yoke 83 (FIG. 5).

It will be seen that I have provided a typewriter, the operating mechanism of which, except for the keyboard, is substantially enclosed by the housing.

A type bar, an illustrative one of which is indicated by character I, pivoted at p, will have a path of movement as represented by the arcuate dot-dash line m in FIG. 4. It will be seen that the point of impact of the type face on the platen will be along a horizontal line behind the cover 25. The only outlet for any sound wave propogated by said impact will be through the relatively narrow space between the two mirrors, and this sound will tend to be projected rearwardly of the operator. Thus, only a relatively small amount of noise can go forwardly to the ears of the operator.

' Rotation of the rear mirror 65 by manipulation of the knob 78 by the operator Will adjust the image of the line of type on the platen into her eyes, as indicated in FIG. 4, so that she may have a clear view of the line of writing worked upon at any time.

Instead of providing a pair of covers, as elements 25 and 55, I may join them into a single unitary cover hingedly connected to the remainder of the housing as at 53. Furthermore, various other changes may be made in details of construction within the spirit of my invention. For example, either of the mirrors may be adjustible, and a wide variety of means may be provided for mounting them as well as for the mounting and positioning of the illuminating means.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, butintend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of myinvention being limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A relatively noiseless typewriting machine comprising a housing for the type mechanism including a type basket and operating keys therefor; said housing including a tray-like shell having a fixed bottom, side-walls extending upwardly from the opposite ends of said bottom, a front wall at the front of said bottom wall between said side walls, and a fixed partial top wall sloping upwardly and rearwardly from said front wall between said side-walls provided with apertures through which extend the terminal ends of said operating keys; a carriage assembly including a cylindrical platen overlying the rear portion of said shell beyond said type basket; cover means for said carriage assembly and type basket comprising a liftable cover mounted on said side walls having the front edge thereof spaced from and overlying the rear terminal edge of said fixed partial top wall, and the rear edge of said liftable cover extending to said carriage; a light source positioned in the space between said front edge of said liftable cover and the rear portion of said fixed top wall whereby the light therefrom is thrown forwardly upon the bank of operating keys and rearwardly to the portion of the cylindrical platen receiving the type impressions; a mirror mounted on said liftable cover forwardly and above said portion of the cylindrical platen; a second mirror mounted on said carriage assembly above said platen and spaced rearwardly a slight distance'from said first-mentioned mirror to define a relatively narrow optical gap, said mirrors adapted to direct the light from said source, which is reflected from said portion to said first mirror, to the eyes of an operator, while minimizing the passage of noise from the type basket and platen.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second minor mounted on said carriage assembly is adjustable on a horizontal axis to facilitate the viewing of the line of type by an operator despite the relatively narrow passage between the mirrors.

3. A relatively noiseless typewriting machine cornprising a housing for the type mechanism including a type basket and operating keys therefor; said housing includ ing a tray-like shell having a fixed bottom, side-walls extending upwardly from the opposite ends of said bottom, a front wall at the front of said bottom Wall between said side walls, and a fixed partial top wall sloping upwardly and rearwardly from said front wall between said side-walls provided with apertures through which extend the terminal ends of said operating keys; a carriage assembly including a cylindrical platen overlying the rear portion of said shell beyond said type basket; cover means for said carriage assembly; a rockable cover for said type basket mounted on said side walls swingably from above said carriage assembly and having the front edge thereof turned downwardly and spaced from the rear terminal edge of said fixed partial top wall; a light source positioned in the space between said front edge of said rockable cover and the rear portion of said fixed top wall whereby the light therefrom is thrown forwardly upon the bank of operating keys and rearwardly to the portion of the cylindrical platen receiving the type impressions; a mirror mounted on said rockable cover forwardly and above said portion of the cylindrical platen; a second mirror mounted on said carriage assembly above said platen and spaced rearwardly a slight distance from said first-mentioned mirror to define a relatively narrow optical gap, said mirrors adapted to direct the light from said source, which is reflected from said portion to said first mirror, to the eyes of an operator, while minimizing the passage of noise from the type basket and platen. V

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cover means for said carriage assembly is pivotally mounted along the upper rear edge thereof, said cover means for said carriage, assembly androckable cover lying in a substantially common plane a short distance 5 above theterminal edge of said fixed top wall Wherefrom extend the operating keys of said typewriting machine.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the marginal portion adjacent to the rear of the fixed top wall as well as the undersurface of the rockable cover are provided with-an efiicient'light-reflecting coating to intensify the light rays directed towards the type-receiving portion of the platen.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least the front edge of the rockable cover adjacent to the light source is provided with an efficient light-reflecting coating to intensify the light rays directed towards the typereceiving portion of the platen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Italy Q. June 5, 1954 

1. A RELATIVELY NOISELESS TYPEWRITING MACHINE COMPRISING A HOUSING FOR THE TYPE MECHANISM INCLUDING A TYPE BASKET AND OPERATING KEYS THEREFOR; SAID HOUSING INCLUDING A TRAY-LIKE SHELL HAVING A FIXED BOTTOM, SIDE-WALLS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BOTTOM, A FRONT WALL AT THE FRONT OF SAID BOTTOM WALL BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS, AND A FIXED PARTIAL TOP WALL SLOPING UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM SAID FRONT WALL BETWEEN SAID SIDE-WALLS PROVIDED WITH APERTURES THROUGH WHICH EXTEND THE TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID OPERATING KEYS; A CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A CYLINDRICAL PLATEN OVERLYING THE REAR PORTION OF SAID SHELL BEYOND SAID TYPE BASKET; COVER MEANS FOR SAID CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY AND TYPE BASKET COMPRISING A LIFTABLE COVER MOUNTED ON SAID SIDE WALLS HAVING THE FRONT EDGE THEREOF SPACED FROM AND OVERLYING THE REAR TERMINAL EDGE OF SAID FIXED PARTIAL TOP WALL, AND THE REAR EDGE OF SAID LIFTABLE COVER EXTENDING TO SAID CARRIAGE; A LIGHT SOURCE POSITIONED IN THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID FRONT EDGE OF SAID LIFTABLE COVER AND THE REAR PORTION OF SAID FIXED TOP WALL WHEREBY THE LIGHT THEREFROM IS THROWN FORWARDLY UPON THE BANK OF OPERATING KEYS AND REARWARDLY TO THE PORTION OF THE CYLINDRICAL PLATEN RECEIVING THE TYPE IMPRESSIONS; A MIRROR MOUNTED ON SAID LIFTABLE COVER FORWARDLY AND ABOVE SAID PORTION OF THE CYLINDRICAL PLATEN; A SECOND MIRROR MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE ASSEMBLY ABOVE SAID PLATEN AND SPACED REARWARDLY A SLIGHT DISTANCE FROM SAID FIRST-MENTIONED MIRROR TO DEFINE A RELATIVELY NARROW OPTICAL GAP, SAID MIRRORS ADAPTED TO DIRECT THE LIGHT FROM SAID SOURCE, WHICH IS REFLECTED FROM SAID PORTION TO SAID FIRST MIRROR, TO THE EYES OF AN OPERATOR, WHILE MINIMIZING THE PASSAGE OF NOISE FROM THE TYPE BASKET AND PLATEN. 